What is the Secret History by Procopius?

The Secret History is a text written by the 6th-century Greek scholar and historian Procopius of Caesarea. Unlike his public writings that praised Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora, this private work portrays them in a starkly diverging, highly critical manner. It offers scandalous accounts of court figures, including depictions of Empress Theodora as shameless, cruel, and lustful.

What we know

• Procopius of Caesarea, a 6th-century Greek scholar and historian, wrote the Secret History alongside his other works like History of the Wars and On Buildings. [1]
• While Procopius wrote glowingly of Empress Theodora in his public works, his Secret History portrays her as shameless, cruel, and lustful. [3]
• The Secret History presents starkly diverging views compared to Procopius's public narratives about the Byzantine court. [3]

Still open

• Historians are divided as to the accuracy of Procopius's portrayals of Empress Theodora in the Secret History.

Where to go next

• whoWho was Procopius of Caesarea?
• compared withHow did Procopius portray Empress Theodora in public?
• how we knowWhat was Justinian's architectural legacy?
• what caused itWhat role did Theodora play in the Nika riots?
• the bigger pictureWhat are the major works of Byzantine historiography?
• an unexpected connectionHow did a bear keeper's daughter become a Byzantine empress?The Empress Theodora, whom Procopius severely attacked in the Secret History for her scandalous private life, originally came from humble beginnings as the daughter of a circus bear keeper.

Sources

• [1]Procopius · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [2]Secret History · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Theodora (wife of Justinian I) · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]On Buildings · CC BY-SA 4.0